The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I've seen them cut out and a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom cut out to allow them to hop threw. I like this idea.

The 5 gallon bucket sounds like a great idea if you have a place for them to go through to!

Right now I'm just a little "burned out" on everything in life and I don't even want to think about having to do another project.

 

[Leahs Mom]

At what age do y'all start letting young chicks NOT BROODY RAISED begin to range outside of a protected pen with the adults?

I'm also going to mention @aoxa @delisha @MumsyII @Kassaundra just to bump this question up for discussion/experiences.

When I refer to ranging I'm saying totally without any overhead cover, in the greater yard unless they return to the kennel pen.

 

[armorfirelady]

I also have a general question. About how long after a broody Mom hatches chicks do they start to lay again? I know it depends on the individual hen but just a general idea of what others have noticed.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I also have a general question. About how long after a broody Mom hatches chicks do they start to lay again? I know it depends on the individual hen but just a general idea of what others have noticed.

Did your broody girls do a molt after brooding? Or do they look like they are going to?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am in western IL only 15 miles from Mississippi,and several tributaries I am from IN..so basically straight west from Chicago 180 miles other side of the state... the evacuated part of the nearest major city ..winds were horrible the driving rain went in all my coops vents etc, all are wet messes, but it happened her about 7:30 on into the night, so babies got caught out in it and their coop was wet..my garage had water in it, my basement so i had those 20+ chickens in my bathroom for the night with heaters etc to warm them up..all that were alive when I found them made it !!! so i must of did something right my husband dried them and my son and i looked like drowned rats getting them inside..

@misbhaven
How is it going today? Do you have everything settled back down? I don't remember - how old are the babies?

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: While they had ratty looking feathers when sitting on eggs they do not look like they are going thru a molt. No disheveled feathers like they have looked in the past.

Stella on the other hand in her brownish feather look is apparently getting ready to molt. Her feathers look horrible. She has them poking out every which way and the old ones look ratty. And she stopped laying. I cant wait till she gets her new feathers in. Oh and she is being a brat with the chicks. Apparently she doesn't want to share food with the babies. They have learned to stay away from her now,

 

[ki4got]

At what age do y'all start letting young chicks NOT BROODY RAISED begin to range outside of a protected pen with the adults?

I'm also going to mention @aoxa @delisha @MumsyII @Kassaundra just to bump this question up for discussion/experiences.

When I refer to ranging I'm saying totally without any overhead cover, in the greater yard unless they return to the kennel pen.

anywhere from 4-6 weeks, depending how long they've been in their pen outside. I like to keep them penned entirely for at least 2 weeks so they know where home is, then just start opening the door and letting them choose what they want to do.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thank you...

The new SFH kiddos have been in their side of the pen and house for a couple weeks. But, seriously, when I look at how small they are I just can't imagine them not being picked right up by a hawk.

Also have to work on integrating them w/the flock. As long as they've been in the house or outdoor side of the run the olders have been able to see them and interact through the fences. One day, one of the almost-year-old pullets went over to their outdoor area. One of the littles was laying right up against the fence the the old pullet proceeded to grab her feathers through the fence and pull some out.

This does not bode well for integration, I'm afraid.....

I guess this is one of the reasons that I wonder if I should cull out some of the older birds before they teach the young kids this kind of behavior.

 

[Kassaundra]

I usually wait until about 10 or so weeks. My biggest daytime concern is neighborhood (feral cats) and hawks, so I try and make sure they are big enough to be almost chicken size so the cats won't be tempted. I still usually lose a couple to presumed hawks, maybe cats, no sign, no feathers, no bodies.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: While they had ratty looking feathers when sitting on eggs they do not look like they are going thru a molt. No disheveled feathers like they have looked in the past.

Stella on the other hand in her brownish feather look is apparently getting ready to molt. Her feathers look horrible. She has them poking out every which way and the old ones look ratty. And she stopped laying. I cant wait till she gets her new feathers in. Oh and she is being a brat with the chicks. Apparently she doesn't want to share food with the babies. They have learned to stay away from her now,

I wondered on the molt because the last time my girl brooded she molted within the first 2 wks after the hatch. Looked pretty scruffy and then had - and has continued to have - the most beautiful, glossy feathers. She looks much better than all the rest of the birds which I attribute to the "broody fast" which I believe they are designed to go through to cleanse and rejuvinate.


Anyhow...the 2 time my girl brooded were strange times of the year. First time was in November with a NYD hatch. She began laying again around April I believe. Second time she brooded in August with a Labor Day hatch (she seems to favor the holidays..

). After molting she was fully re-feathered and beautiful before the cold came in. But I don't think she started laying again until around February or March.